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Must Read Book Reviews

Epic
Battles of the Last Days - Joyner
The Bait of Satan - Bevere
Biblical Healing and Deliverance - Kylstra
Transforming the Inner Man - Sandford

Biblical Healing and Deliverance
By Chester and Betsy Kylstra

Chester and Betsy Kylstra
have been in full time ministry since 1990 not
only as RTF ministers but also as teachers and
trainers of individuals and RTF ministry teams
worldwide.In 1992, they founded “Proclaiming His
Word Ministries Inc.” and in January 2001, they
began operation of the Healing House Network to
provide training and oversight of RTF ministry
teams while at the same time offering a
centralized location for the handling of
referrals.

They oversee the PHW Healing house, training center and are responsible
for the development of a number of resources,
which help train prayer ministers.

Part one of this book
presents the foundational understanding
necessary to receiving and imparting RTF
ministry.
First and foremost, we learn that it is the
cross of Jesus Christ that gives power and
potency to every area of Christian Ministry but
only when we see it through eyes of faith and
recognize that it is all about forgiveness and
reconciliation between God and us, others, and
ourselves.We can apply the cross, by which is meant
appropriate by faith, the power to overcome all
that the enemy would use to destroy us, to every
area of life in which the enemy has gained a
foothold.

Secondly, we learn there
are no loopholes in God’s law.His laws are always in operation whether
we believe or not and to violate them invites
natural consequence, pain, spiritual separation
from God and demonic oppression.RTF ministry focuses largely on four
specific laws of God.They are the laws of sowing and reaping,
multiplication, whereby each harvest brings
forth more of the same seed, the time of harvest
or season of patience necessary before the
harvest is ready for reaping, and the law of
believing in your heart.

The third foundational
concept is that of hearing God’s voice.God promises us that we will know His
voice but we must learn to hear and recognize it
in all its various forms.These forms fall into the three broad
categories of hearing, seeing and feeling.God’s purpose for speaking to us in
whichever way He chooses is to reveal the roots
of bondage and pain, reveal how to minister to
those roots and reveal His plan and purpose for
the one receiving ministry.

Next, we are reminded that
the enemy is at war against us seeking to
destroy us, our minds and our bodies.We must come into agreement with God
through His word about the power and authority
we have in Christ and the defensive and
offensive weapons of spiritual warfare we must
wield to take back our territory and protect it
from further onslaught.

Finally, we are given an
understanding of true forgiveness from the heart
toward others, from God and to self as being the
basis of our freedom in Christ.Forgiveness opens the door to healing
because it allows relationship.We are healed through our relationships
to God, others and ourselves.

Next, we move on to
Foundational Ministry Areas.These are presented in the order that
they are usually addressed in the ministry
process.
They are “Sins of the Fathers and Resulting
Curses” (SOFCs), Ungodly Beliefs (UGs) that need
exchanging for Godly Beliefs (GBs), Soul/Spirit
Hurts (SSHs) which pertains to restoring “broken
hearts” and deliverance from Demonic Oppression
(DO).The
purpose of the foundational ministry areas is to
recover legal ground previously given over to
the enemy.Although the four ministry areas are
presented separately, it is important to realize
they are interrelated and therefore necessary to
address each one in the same general period of
time to ensure healing and freedom that lasts.

God wants to bring us out
of SOFCs and into his family line where he is
our Abba Father and no hurts or sinful heritage
exists.
He wants to bring us out of UGBs and renew our
minds so we can think and act like Him and agree
with His word.He wants to deliver us from the traps of
Satan and bring us into His protection.

The Kylstras present
Foundational Applications starting with Soul
Ties followed by Demonic Strongholds and “super
strongholds.” Un-Godly Soul ties are emotional
and spiritual connections with another person
that are perverted, dysfunctional and or sexual
in nature.The connections are of a covenant nature,
which binds the participants together.Demonic Strongholds are structures built
upon the foundation provided by SOFCs with the
building materials of self-sins, UGBs, SSHs and
demons.
The structure must be identified, disassembled
and demolished one section at a time by the
direction of the Holy Spirit using the
repetitive application of the RTF ministry
steps.

This book is a battle
manual for extracting captives from the enemy’s
hands and helping them become healed, free,
active and able soldiers in the kingdom of God.Using the examples of Moses, David,
Jacob, Jesus and others from scripture, we are
shown repeatedly the cause and effect of sin
along with God’s remedy.Everything taught is backed up by
scripture rather than hype or theory as might be
found in a secular manual.

The authors intersperse
their instruction with case history examples
from their own notes, that help the reader apply
new knowledge to “real-life” situations, but it
is done in a way that always keeps the emphasis
on God’s power and ability rather than the
“expertise” of the minister.They make it clear that during RTF
ministry, the minister’s job is to work with God
as He leads.The minister is totally reliant on God to
do the work.The manual offers the minister a place to
start but it is not a fail-safe method.God alone fosters the success.Our job is to pray and be obedient to
God’s leading.

According to the Kylstras,
God wants us to come into maturity as believers.He wants us to enforce His victory over
darkness and the grave.He wants us to “know the truth and the
truth shall set you free”.He wants us to appropriate all that He
has given us, possessing what is rightfully ours
with power and authority.Satan has come to “steal, kill and
destroy” and demons are the instruments through
which he does much of his work.The battle is a real life and death
struggle.
As an instruction manual, their book is an
excellent place to gain wisdom and understanding
for ourselves, first as we seek to become what
God intended and second as we seek to lead
others in the same direction.Every page is filled with pertinent
information and should be considered an absolute
treasure to those who desire to share “the good
news”, that Jesus came to destroy the works of
the enemy, with a hurting world.

Of course, the Holy Spirit
can lead wherever He chooses and the
participants should always remember that His is
the only agenda that matters.Last, but hardly least is the inclusion
of the ministry card that summarizes all the
steps for each of the four Problem/Ministry
Areas.
With this card, even the newest of ministers can
be confident that they will not mistakenly leave
out part of the process thereby doing the
receiver some injustice, either real or
imagined.
The Kylstras really have done their homework,
and it shows throughout this book.

Epic Battles
of the Last Days
Intercession or Accusation?

I
would like to share some thoughts that were
inspired by this read. Rick Joyner said,
"Scriptures reveal that there are two things
which go on continually before the throne of
God: intercession and accusation." Jesus "always
lives to make intercession" for us. Heb.7:25
Satan is called "the accuser of our brethren...
who accuses them before God day and night."
Mark11:17 We are either an expression of Jesus,
to love our brothers in intercession, or an
expression of Satan, to accuse them when we
think they have failed.

Demons are most successful when they can use us
to do their work of accusation Their desire is
to find people who will allow them to speak
through them, to accuse and damage other people.
Will we choose to listen to accusations and
become a medium to voice them? Will we choose to
be an expression of Jesus our intercessor who
forever lays down His life that others may
prosper?

Demons know that they must divide us to weaken
us or they will be defeated. If only two of us
in agreement, can put ten thousand to flight
(Deut.32:20), Christians who are in harmony are
very dangerous. I have heard it said that
witches are afraid of Christians who know who
they are in Christ, because then they know their
authority over demonic powers.

Satan is not omnipresent, so the only way he can
accuse us before the throne day and night, is to
use us to do his work. He preys on insecure
people who will criticize members of their own
body in order to gain position or control. If he
can speak accusations through the leadership,
others will follow their example. When we are
used to criticize others, to promote ourselves,
we actually lose ground, because it is Jesus who
exalts and prospers. James 4:6 "God resists the
proud but gives grace to the humble."

Our Heavenly Father is committed to protecting
His children and His investments in their hearts
and lives. He takes these assaults personally as
if it had been done unto Him. He does not
appreciate accusers slandering His handiwork in
us. Ultimately, accusers are accusing God the
Father.

How much better, to remember who we are in
Christ. We are ministers -- servants to those
who are in need. We are to partner with Jesus to
reconcile people to Himself and to each other.

ll Cor.5:19 that God was reconciling the world
to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins
against them. And he has committed to us the
message of reconciliation.

Most people can identify and criticize the
weakness of others; that is no great talent. How
many have a heart to restore another when they
need it most? How many really believe that Jesus
does restore 100%? Or do we put them on a shelf,
punish those who slip or say they can only enjoy
God's plan B now, with no hope?

ll Gal.6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a
sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you
also may be tempted.

It all comes down to who we believe Jesus Christ
is.....

Does Jesus
commit to restore us 100% is we will
cooperate with Him?

Does He really
forgive and forget all accusations even when
we were guilty?

Does He call
those who have experiences failure or assign
them to plan B?

Can He really
redeem ANY experience for the good and His
glory?

If you believe that the blood of Jesus has not
lost its power, that he can still take a Mary
Magdeline, deliver her and make her part of the
ministry team.... Then make a fresh commitment
to "Love covers a multitude of sins." l Peter
4:8 Learn to discern without adding your own
interpretation or condemnation. Lets have the
heart of a true minister who serves and is more
interested in building up others than himself.

If you liked this,
buy Rick Joyner's book: "Epic Battles of the
Last Days"

"The Bait
of Satan" by John Bevere

If only I had
read this book ten years ago! How much deception
could I have possibly avoided? How many pity
parties would have been left unattended!
Explanatory and convicting, the experience of
reading it was truly bittersweet. It actually
felt very autobiographical. Surely churches
could institute required reading lists!

Inherent in the
definition of deception is that you do
not know it is being done to you. Satan is
commonly known as the “master of deception”, and
less commonly recognized for his mastery in his
use of skandalon. What a painful reality
this is.

Blindness and
self-centeredness result from taking up an
offense. As we focus on the faults of others to
the exclusion of self-evaluation, much fruit
results, but not fruits of righteousness. The
enemy means it for separation, hurt, anger,
strife, jealousy etc., yet the Lord desires us
to see our true condition. God allows the
fire of hurtful, difficult experiences to
burn off our dross and purify our gold.

After an offense
many of us become inward and guarded,
unconditional love becomes impossible because we
will not risk being hurt. Our love grows cold.
The walls we erect for our protection from
further hurt become our prison instead. Doubt
and unbelief begin to prevail. Doubts about
God’s goodness arise as we filter everything
through hurts of the past and experiences of
rejection. Believing God becomes harder and
harder. We become unable to function in our
calling, incapable of reaching our full
potential because of wounds and offenses.

When we see flaws
in leaders we judge and criticize, then we run
away from the difficulty. Our enemy has garnered
another success in uprooting us from the place
of God’s planting. Eventually we become
isolated, escaping the test. Conflict is
temporarily avoided, relationships are severed
instead of reconciled, character development is
derailed and the cycle begins all over again.

What a comfort to
know it was God who put David under Saul and
Samuel under Eli. God allows our sifting for our
good. The test – shall we become like our
offenders? Shall we assume God’s prerogative in
judging and correcting our offender? What a
comfort that “we are not ignorant of Satan’s
devices.”

Oh
Lord, may we learn obedience through our
hardships and acknowledging our pain. Grant me
humility and selflessness that pursues peace
with all men. Help me, God, to fulfill my
ministry of reconciliation before You. As you
have forgiven me, may I forgive also and allow
you the place of Judge, Defender and Avenger.
Please heal my heart and fill it with a fervent
love for others. Enable me, Father, to walk in
mature love that loves beyond perceived
perfection in another. May I love with the same
intensity after their sin and frailties have
come to light. For this is how You
love me.

Anonymous Student: Training for
Restoration Prayer Ministry

Transforming the Inner Man

By John and Paula Sandford

John Sandford¹s call
to the inner healing ministry began shortly
after he met Agnes Sanford in 1961. She had
prayed for healing of his back by praying for
the Lord to enable him to forgive his mother! In
1963, he joined Agnes as a teacher in many
seminars and grew in his insights concerning
complete transformation and sanctification of
the Church, realizing that is what was most
missing in the lives of Christians.

He went
through a 7-year period where the Lord was
refining his methods of ministry
until he finally realized that the Lord wasn¹t
going to change him and make him better - the
Lord wanted him to be completely brought to
death and then made new! After John and Paula
were married, they joined together in
continuation and growth of the ministry,
eventually developing what is now known as
³Elijah House² and authoring several books on
inner healing and restoration, as well as
holding seminars and training.

In this book, clarification was given about the
differences between ³transformation² and
³sanctification² - many Christians mistakenly
believing they were one and the same.
Sanctification is the rebirth experience of
accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Transformation
is the complete death of self and renewal by the
Holy Spirit into the fullness of being one with
God and with others. It is the process of
allowing our weaknesses to be made into our
strengths, our mess into glory. Because of what
we used to be, we are now able to minister to
others in those areas.

To go from having an unbelieving heart to a
believing one, the old seeds that the enemy
planted in us have to be plowed up; fruits that
have grown from them need to be rooted out and
tossed aside so the heart can be prepared for
the new seeds of truth within us that the Lord
wants to grow into good fruit. Our hidden and
forgotten judgments, especially against our
parents, prevent us from seeing God as He truly
is. Not until we have forgiven our fathers, can
we see God as a loving presence in our lives
instead of a stern, judgmental one. Our hearts
see God through our parents¹ mannerisms,
especially through our fathers.

One constant problem Christians have is to keep
falling back into striving to perform to earn
the Lord¹s acceptance. ³Performance Orientation²
is a term that describes the false motivation
that compels us to keep performing to win love
and approval. It says, ³If I don¹t do right, I
won¹t be loved.² The stance of performance
oriented people is not restful acceptance and
confidence, but rather constant anxiety, fear,
and striving. This comes from not being loved
unconditionally in childhood and, therefore, not
being able to believe we are loved
unconditionally by God (or others in our lives).
The result is that our inner being quits trying
and dies, while our outer self goes on
performing - never reaching the ³abundant life².

The main
underlying factor in performance orientation is
FEAR - fear of what others will think, fear of
rejection, fear of failure - wanting to know all
the ³rules² ahead of time so you can stay in
control of your environment. This takes away
from being able to be spontaneous or just have
fun - everything is rigid and planned.
Performance oriented people usually lose their
true identity due to becoming what everyone else
wants them to be. Learning to simply receive
God¹s love and acceptance as being unconditional
is the only way to be set free from this
striving.

Forgiveness is crucial in order for inner
healing to take place. The blood of Jesus is
what brings forth the power of forgiveness. The
Word renews the mind, but it is the blood that
heals the heart. We need to apply the blood to
the heart through prayer each time we pray for
inner healing. The biggest hurdle to overcome is
to really believe we are holding resentments or
have lied to ourselves and forgotten. The answer
is simple - if the problem is still there,
forgiveness is not complete! The book explains
all the specific problems that each stage of
life can bring about if the child is not
properly received, loved, accepted, and nurtured
by the parents.

Repeated
wounding and repeated sinful reactions to hurts
result in habits of responding to life in either
defensive or hurtfully aggressive ways. However,
Jesus can touch, heal, and transform everything
in our past that has shaped us and driven us
from within since our early years. He does not
erase our past, but rather transforms every
experience into strength, understanding,
compassion, and healing!

Quite fascinating to me was the section on
³Bitter-Root Judgment and Expectancy². The law
of sowing and reaping, as well as ³Judge not,
that you be not judged... and the measure you
give will be the measure you get² takes those
areas in which we sowed or judged and cause us
to now reap the same thing until we repent of
those things! Examples were given of people who
had judged their parents for a certain behavior
or aspect of their personalities and then when
they got married, their spouses did the same
things! ³Bitter-root expectancy² is when you
already expect someone to act the way someone
else did (or the way they ³used to act²) - for
example, a mother who is controlling can lead to
the son expecting his WIFE to also be
controlling, and that expectancy can then
actually cause her to be that way!

In the section on ³Sexual Sins and Difficulties²
it was explained that we are born possessing a
spirit which does not yet know how to love
another and that our fathers are primarily the
ones who call forth that life within us and
shape it. We have to receive large amounts of
love and affection as babies and be drawn forth
to love. The ability to fully enjoy sex is
either enabled or destroyed before the age of
six! Behind each sexual aberration or sin there
is some type of destruction or blockage from
early childhood -
no whole person falls into sexual sin, and the
roots must be dug out and destroyed and replaced
with the pure love of the Father in order for
restoration to take place in that area.

Once inner healing has taken place in any area,
in order to hold onto our healing, we have to
stand on faith. We need to continue to reckon as
dead those things we have been set free from,
even when they rear their ugly heads again! This
doesn¹t mean the healing didn¹t work - but that
we have to continue to claim the fact of our
healing by guarding what we think, feel, say, or
do. Once we have taken these things to the cross
and crucified them, they no longer have any
power over us; but if we believe they still have
life, and get back into struggling with them, we
can give them false power over us and fight them
all over again! All we have to do instead is to
say, ³I don¹t have to have (or do) that anymore.
That is dead.² Then we can go on with our lives
ignoring those thoughts and feelings from that
point on.

The book applied to me directly in many ways! I
realized that my father had rarely noticed me or
what I was doing and I so yearned to be noticed!
I have subconsciously been believing that God
also doesn¹t notice me - now I know He does and
always has! I could not see God¹s gentle,
loving, and giving nature. The section on
³Performance Orientation² really hit home for me
and showed me how to be set free from this
behavior.

Also, the book shed some
light on my struggles with overeating when it
said that sometimes when a mother doesn¹t breast
feed her child or if her milk lacked nutrients,
the child was fed but not satisfied! This
repeated disappointment can then register in the
child¹s inner being not to expect to have her
needs met in a rich way and can also lead to a
vague fear and to have an inner drive to search
or strive beyond necessity, and yet to never
believe she has ³enough². This may also cause
the adult child to have unidentified senses of
hunger, insecurity, rejection, anger, and
emptiness.

I really enjoyed reading and studying this book.
It really is the most thorough book I have read
on inner healing (I used up 3 highlighters!),
and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is
seeking inner healing for themselves or who are
considering a ministry in inner healing!